Rebounding
by Margaret Canavan
GITC Board Member, Galveston Co. Master Gardener
Courtesy: Galveston Daily News
We have survived the Ike anniversary, recalling the aftermath and our shock at seeing boats in the road, gigantic piles of debris, personal belongings piled on curbs, and stinky muck everywhere. Trees stood barren of leaves, so many looking dead, some broken and uprooted. Upon my return I found our gigantic oak, lying on the ground and leafless. My tears came when it began sprouting new leaves.
This year is so different. Galveston looks more like itself again and the trees are enjoying the bouts of late summer rain.
Five years ago this was difficult to imagine. As time progressed that fall it became clear that many trees would never recover from the saltwater inundation and extended drought. Leaves they sprouted were their final struggle. Removal efforts began soon for trees that were believed to be beyond hope, before many of us were able to accept their demise.
Recovery efforts took many forms. The Galveston Island Tree Conservancy (GITC) and newly established City of Galveston Tree Committee partnered with many groups to focus on restoring our urban forest.
In these few years this effort has provided for planting of 10,849 trees using approximately $1,000,000 in donations, 90% from private sources. This includes 267 trees at ten city parks; 131 at schools and public buildings; and 204 on major roads including Broadway and Rosenberg Avenues. NeighborWoods efforts have added 1,415 trees to the street side right of way in 12 neighborhoods. Great Galveston Tree Giveaways have provided 8860 trees to homeowners to add to their home landscapes, with another 1,500 + free for the taking on November 16.
The planning and planting has been done by hundreds of volunteers, with funding provided by a score of foundations and other organizations, and people like you and me. Remember the voting we all did for the “Toms of Maine” grant? Education efforts focus on tree selection and care and the importance of our urban forest.
Many thanks to the people and organizations that have helped so far! Everything we invest in our tree canopy today will be repaid many times over and enjoyed by generations to come. Support can be given by your GITC membership and gifts of time and/or money. Visit the GITC website at http://galvestonislandtreeconservancy.org/ to the see five-year recovery plan, donors list, partner groups, membership opportunities, the upcoming tree giveaway and tree care workshop and much more!
Rebuilding of homes is ongoing. Some seem to take forever and we are still missing large areas that were thriving neighborhoods. But once begun a home can be rehabilitated, or a new one built, in a matter of months. Not so for an urban forest. Decades will pass before newly planted trees--even the largest ones--are close to replacing the many large old trees we lost. There is Chinese proverb that “the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago; the next best time is now.” So let’s keep planting.
Hurricane Ike caused the loss of 40,000 trees on Galveston Island. The Galveston Island Tree Conservancy was formed to address that loss and to date has replaced almost 11,000 through grant-funded plantings and giveaways, with more planned.
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“Tree Stories” is an ongoing series of articles about island trees, tree care and tree issues. If you have or know of a special tree on Galveston Island that should be highlighted, email treesforgalveston@gmail.com. Margaret Canavan is a Galveston resident, a Galveston County Master Gardener, and a member of the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy Board.